LAUSR

Abstract We prepared transparent solid–liquid bulk composites by hybridizing porous silica with either an ionic liquid or a silicone oil, and investigated the reasons underlying the characteristic wetting behavior of the composite with the ionic liquid. The composite with the ionic liquid was hydrophilic, but it was immiscible in water, probably because of the hydrophobic effect. The contribution from the hydrogen bond component of the ionic liquid to the hydrophilicity was inferred from the division of surface energy components. The composite with the silicone oil was hydrophobic. Both composites exhibited small sliding angles and contact angle hysteresis on a water droplet. Spreading coefficients suggest that ionic liquid spreads at the water–solid interface in the composite. These properties simultaneously provide a water-shedding property and hydrophilicity on the composite with the ionic liquid. Both composites exhibited re-connection performance of the broken part with retention of their water shedding property.